Ornamenting billiard cues and the like



Nam 13 11923.

J. R. KEIPER ORNAMENTING BILLIARD CUES Ami THE LIKE Filed Dec. 4. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Parent @5 JOHN RAYMOND KEIPER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ORNAMENTIN'G BILLIARID CUES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 4, 1922. Serial No. 604,687.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN RAYMOND nrrnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Ornamenting Billiard Cues and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The improvements relate to means and methods for ornamenting billiard cues and similar articles, and more particularly to ornamentations which resemble in appearance an inset of wood at the butt or grip end thereof. The objects of the improvements, among others, are to provide an elfective means and method whereby such ornamentation may be made quickly and economically, and in such a manner that it will have the appearance of a butt provided with in-- serted pieces of hard wood or wood of a different color from the body of the cue.

Heretofore it has been proposed to accomplish this object'by means of fingers or dies arranged to be clamped on the one, and to protect the surface which is not to be ornamented while the ornamenting paint or stain is applied thereto. but it has been found that such means, like ordinary paint ing by hand are objectionable, lead to imperfect results, and are wasteful of time and materials. By the use of the present improvements the ornamcnting is done in a most effective manner. without handling the cue or otherwise manipulating it or any of the devices employed in the operation in such a manner as might be calculated to smear, blur, or otherwise spoil the ornamentation, or injure the cue.

The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general side view in perspective of an apparatus illustrating the improvements; Fig, 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the bed plate in its frame, upon which the object to be ornamented rests and of the stencil and outlining dies, with adjacent parts; 3 is a view of a billiard one with the ornamentation thereon; and Fig. 4: is a transverse section of the stencil and outlining dies in operative position on the cue, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows in that figure.

The frame 1 of the apparatus is preferably rectangular and is supported on a stand or table 2. At one end it is cut out to accommodate the cue or similar object, as shown at 3, and at the other end guides 4 for the die and stencil block are provided.

A rotating chuck 8 is mounted in the frame near one end thereof by means of braces 5 and 6 secured to th frame, and this chuck comprises a hand-wheel 7, by which it may be adjusted to clamp cues of different sizes, and suitable jaws operatively connected therewith. It is held against rotation by means of a pin 9, engaging suitable recesses, or in any other desired manner, and the rotary movement of the chuck is gagged and checked by a spring pawl 10 which engages successively the notches 11' in the ring 11 secured to the chuck. The details of construction and operation whereby the outer end of the cue is held in position and r0- tated to the desired extent are unimportant, and any of the devices for that purpose common to the arts may be employed. In the construction most commonly used the chuck is arranged so that it can be rotated 90 degrees or one-quarter of a circle, and held accurately in position after each partial rotation while an impression is being made on the butt.

An upright guide 12 is mounted in the frame a suitable distance from the chuck by means of a brace 13, and in this guide a vertically adjustable block 14 is mounted by means of a screw bolt 15, which passes through the top piece 16 of the guide and into the block. Another bolt 17 passes through a vertical slot in the block and is threaded into a hole in the guide 12, so that the said block may be clamped and securely held in any position to which it may be ad justed by means of the screw bolt 15.

The die and stencil block 18 is pivotally attached to an extension 14: of the block 14:, and the vertical adjustment of the block therefore adapt-s it to variations in the diameters of the cues or other objects being operated upon, and also determines the depth of the impression made by the outlining dies. In this block or arm 18 is a V shaped opening 19 with upwardly beveled edges and a downwardly extending knife edge 20, so that when it is pressed against the cue a sharp, shallow cut or score is made defining the edges of the stain and providing means for checking the lateral flow of the staining fluid. The outer end of the arm 18 is provided with. an inclined plane 21,

position for another impression.

sions 29 and 30, of a supporting bed 31,-

which is in turn supported medially in the main frame by cross pieces 32 mounted on the lower horizontal flange 1 at the bottom of the said main frame.

In operation the cue is placed in position with its butt resting upon the supports 29 and 30 and its opposite end passed through and held by the chuck. The arm 18 is then adjusted, if necessary, so as to give the 'desired impression and seal the edges of the stencil hole, and then pressedagainst the butt of the cue by means of the pressure devices 21 and 22. The paint, stain or lacquer is then applied by means of a brush or other suitable device which is inserted in the beveled edges of the \I-SlliLPQ-Cl slot or opening. The arm 18 is then raised and the cue rotated 90 degrees and secured in The process is then repeated until four impressions and decorations have been made, the decorating liquid at the edges in each instance entering the V-shaped cut or score and being thereby prevented from spreading and forming a sharp, clear outline. 'Any' number of decorations or markings may be made, and if desired the chuck may be arranged so that it can be stopped and held at positions in its rotation greater or less than 90 degrees apart. It will also be apparent that the shape and character of the decorations may be varied.

What I claim is:

1. The method or process of decorating billiard cues and the like which consists in securing the one against rotary, lateral and longitudinal movement, pressing a stencil device against the same and causing the edges thereof to mark the surface of the cue to outline the decoration, applying a coloring substance to the portion which is exposed by the stencil device, then rotating the cue, while holding it against lateral and longitudinal bodily movement and repeating the operation described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame or support of a stencil device mounted to be moved to and from the cue, means for holding the one against movement in 'all directions and for rotating it while holding it against bodily 'movement, and means for adjusting the support upon which the stencil device is movably mounted.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame or support of a stencil device mounted to be moved to and from the 'cue, means for holding the one against movement in all directions and for rotating it while holding it against bodily movement, and means for-exerting pressure on the stencil device after it has been brought into contact with the cue.

t. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame or support of a stencil device mounted to be moved to and from the cue, means for holding the one against movement in all directions and for rotating it while holding it against bodily movement, and the said stencil device being provided with protruding sharp edges adapted to cause an abrasion outlining the stencil opening.

5. The combination of means for holding a one or the likeagainst lateral and longitudinal bodily movement, said means con structed and arranged to permit rotary movement, means for automatically checking rotary movement at predetermined points, means for locking the one against rotary movement, and a marking device movable to; and from the one and mounted in fixed relation laterally and longitudinally thereto. 6. The combination of means for holding a cue or the like against lateral and longitudinal bodily movement, said means constructed and arranged to permit rotary movement, means for automatically checking rotary movement at predetermined points, and a marking device movable to and from the one and mounted in fixed relation laterally and longitudinally thereto. lVitness my hand this27th day of November, 1922, at the city of New York,

county of Bronx and State of New York.

JOHN RAYMOND KEIPER. 

